PRH Plans - It Makes No Sense

Telford & Wrekin Council's Leader says that reports that health bosses are to move the Princess Royal Hospital’s £28 million Women’s & Children Centre and A&E from the PRH make absolutely no sense.

When reports are formally confirmed that the PRH will lose services to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, he says that the Council will look at mounting a legal challenge.

Exactly two years ago the Women & Children’s Centre at PRH opened at Telford because this was the best site to meet clinical needs.

Cllr Shaun Davies said people will be baffled how, with the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust and the Shropshire area’s CCGs facing growing multi-million budget deficits, it can make any sense to move the £28 million and highly successful centre.

He also has a number of very serious concerns about how the decision-making process for Future Fit has been run and its fairness.

Cllr Davies says the Council could be looking at a judicial review if as expected the decision to move services from the PRH is confirmed which is expected to happen in the next few days.

He is also calling for an urgent meeting with chief officer of the Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire CCGs David Evans together with the borough’s two MPs Lucy Allan and Mark Pritchard.

Cllr Davies said: “People will be baffled how closing £28 million highly successful Women’s and Children’s Centre can make any sense at all particularly for SaTH and Shropshire CCG which are losing money hand over fist.

“It opened only two years ago and Telford was chosen because clinically this was the best location.

“Add to this that the financial appraisal of hospital services scored the PRH as the most affordable option.

“On top of this we have very serious concerns about how non-financial decisions have been reached.

“I urge people to get behind PRH and back our www.prh4me.co.uk campaign so that we can make the voice of people for whom the PRH is their hospital clearly heard. I am urging our two MPs to join us in the fight for the future of our hospital.”